Best Gifts…
With all the worry, stress and grief in the world right now I wanted to write something light and happy. This is a fun blog and one that I hope gives a bit of a break from the world and makes you look around your own home. We all have amazing gifts in our lives. My son is my biggest and most precious gift. Be grateful for all the blessings and gifts in your lives. It’s important, especially now to find gratitude and to celebrate the good.
This blog is about the fun and unexpected gifts you may have received. In my case I can look around my home and see a number of items that were presents and that have added to my life in a meaningful and unexpected way. I’ve received items from so many friends and family members so if I don’t mention a gift you’ve given me, please don’t take offence. None is intended. I can’t think of anything I’ve been given that hasn’t given me warmth and pleasure. The gifts I talk about below (and I’ve only included a few from the many I own) are ones that were perhaps something extra to fill a bag or “just because” thoughts and have provided some unexpected moments of joy.
As I sit at my desk in my sitting room and look around the first thing that catches my eye is a brightly coloured piece of artwork. It’s a child’s creation with the name that my son and his friends called him written in black on the bottom. It’s from a long time ago but it’s always been such a brilliant addition to walls in my homes over the years. I framed it with an inexpensive black frame. When I first moved into this house I hung it and another of his pieces of artwork in the front room. With the dull grey/blue paint on the walls, they were kind of “lost” to the background. Now that my walls are a bright yellow, they shine. This one in particular, screams joy from the wall and it holds a place of honour in a way that a critical, expensive piece will never.
Shortly after this past Christmas, my neighbour stopped by with a candle for me. She’s always dropping off little “treats” and this was no different. However, when I opened the box, there was a candle that says, “sometimes you forget you are awesome; this is your reminder”. Beyond the fact that I have such a kind friend in my corner, it came to me at a time when the message was needed. I’ve placed it with my winter decor and it graces the bottom of my tiered stand on the kitchen island. It’s in my face when I’m having my tea first thing in the morning. I didn’t realize how much I would benefit from being “told” that in the morning before facing the day. It’s been a boost over these long winter months.
A beloved cousin gave me a couple of books about writing. One of them is daily words from authors for authors. Most mornings I open it and read the words of insight for the day. What I love about it is that I’ve had it sitting in my living room for over a year and I don’t feel that I’m rereading a book. I feel like each day there’s another nugget of wisdom from which to learn. What’s especially interesting to me is the other book is about publishing a book, which is something I want to do, but the words from other authors has been the unexpected gem.
What’s the worse that can happen? Don’t we often say that refrain? A couple of Christmases ago, my mom gave me a sign that says, “What’s the best that could happen?”. She said she picked it up and thought I might like it. I’m sure she has no idea how often I walk into the room where it sits on top of a bookshelf and just read it. It’s what I did when I considered registering for a writer’s workshop. It’s what I did when I decided last Spring to go to Ireland by myself, rent a cottage, and try to write a book. It’s been invaluable. What is the best that could happen? What a great way to look at the world and the choices we’re offered.
Years and years ago a friend gave me mop-like angel. It hangs on my wall as my guardian angel and I always place it somewhere special in my homes. In this house, it hangs above the chair where I sit and read. It’s not often in my direct thoughts but the intent behind it, the prayer for goodness and protection sits well with me.
A few years ago a friend gave me a pair of earrings for my birthday. I wonder if she notices how often I wear them. They are my go-to pair, especially in the winter. Anytime I’m concerned that a sweater I’m wearing will catch my earrings, I wear that special pair. They will never catch, they have a stone that picks up light and creates a sparkle and they go with anything. I own lots of earrings and those pair have given me such joy.
I have many, many incredible gifts from over the years. If I spent a few minutes and wandered through my house it would become hours as I would end up stopping and reflecting on the gifts that have become staples in my house and decor. I can’t possibly mention them all so I’m going to finish this short blog with a gift from this past Christmas.
I am not a bird person. A few years ago my mom gave me a bird feeder that has a vintage look to it that she thought would be a good addition to my yard. I put it on a shepherd’s hook that is within eyesight of my kitchen porch. That first year I know I didn’t fill it regularly and didn’t take much notice of it at all. The last couple of summers it’s become an interesting focal point. As I said, I’m not a bird person. I don’t know what the birds are that are visiting other than the obvious cardinals, robins and blue jays. What the feeder has done has developed an interest. (And I just realized is one of those unexpected gifts about which I’m writing!) Anyway, this past Christmas my mom wanted to give me a book about birds to help me identify what is coming into my yard. That book has been amazing! She chose the book because of the beautiful, colourful illustrations and they are charming and very well done. I fell in love with the book because of the words from the author. It’s a journal of the birds that visit the author’s yard and how she fell in love with their lives. She doesn’t give the birds human traits but she describes their behaviours in human words. It’s about how they tussle for primary spots at her feeders, develop awareness of her presence and how they arrive and depart at different times of year. It’s fascinating and reads like a novel. An “extra” gift has become an inspiration. I’ve picked up more feeders and different feed as I learn about the birds in my part of the world. I can’t wait for Spring when I can get the bird bath back out and watch the warmer weather birds show up.
Enjoy the treats that you’ve been given. Take them out and laugh and smile. In a time when the world seems dark, it’s okay to be lighthearted and a little frivolous. It keeps us hopeful. Happy last week of February, everyone!
